You could say it’s a plague of sorts. At least that’s how some law enforcement agencies are describing auto thefts in the U.S. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) said the total number of autos stolen every month in 2022 hit around 75,000.
That’s a lot of theft and it pushed the yearly total in 2022 up 7% from 2021 to over 1 million autos.
The PIA Western Alliance states of California and Washington were ranked first and third in the total number of autos stolen in 2022. Illinois saw the biggest percentage increase of 35%. California’s total was only up 1% but Washington’s 31% jump came close to Illinois.
Here are the totals from the 10 hardest hit states:
1. California
2021 total: 201,034
2022 total: 202,685
Percent of change: 1%
2. Texas
2021 total: 95,082
2022 total: 105,015
Percent of change: 10%
3. Washington
2021 total: 35,921
2022 total: 46,939
Percent of change: 31%
4. Florida
2021 total: 43,250
2022 total: 45,973
Percent of change: 6%
5. Colorado
2021 total: 38,570
2022 total: 42,237
Percent of change: 10%
6. Illinois
2021 total: 26,677
2022 total: 38,649
Percent of change: 35%
7. Ohio
2021 total: 28,107
2022 total: 29,913
Percent of change: 6%
8. Missouri
2021 total: 26,630
2022 total: 29,345
Percent of change: 10%
9. New York
2021 total: 23,088
2022 total: 28,292
Percent of change: 23%
10. Georgia
2021 total: 26,238
2022 total: 26,529
Percent of change: 1%
David Glawe is the president and CEO of the NICB said this is the first time since 2008 that over 1 million autos have been stolen in the U.S. Here are the totals for the last four years.
- 2019 — 801,023
- 2020 — 888,011
- 2021 — 937,976
- 2022 — 1,001,967
“We are seeing vehicle theft numbers that we haven’t seen in nearly 15 years, and there is very little deterrent to stop criminals from committing these acts as they are just property crimes, like shoplifting,” Glawe said. “We must reinvest in local law enforcement, provide the necessary resources for prosecution and community policing programs, and implement early intervention programs given the high incidence of juvenile offenders involved in vehicle thefts.”
Source link: National Insurance Crime Bureau — http://bit.ly/43CA0jt
